Silicon Laboratories Announces First User-Programmable XOs and VCXOs with Any-Rate Frequency Synthesis

Silicon Laboratories Inc. (Nasdaq:SLAB), a leader in high-performance, analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs, today announced the Si570/1 family, the industry’s first user-programmable crystal oscillators (XO) and voltage-controlled crystal oscillators (VCXO) supporting any-rate frequency synthesis. Using patented DSPLL® technology and an industry-standard I2C interface, a single device can generate any output frequency from 10 MHz to 1.4 GHz at jitter levels of 0.3 picoseconds rms. The Si570 Any-Rate XO and Si571 Any-Rate VCXO are ideal for high-performance applications requiring frequency flexible clock sources including next-generation networking equipment, wireless base stations, test and measurement equipment, HDTV video infrastructure and high-speed data acquisition equipment. Hardware designers have traditionally used multiple fixed-frequency XOs, VCXOs or voltage-controlled SAW oscillators (VCSO) in designs requiring a system timing architecture that is reconfigurable to operate at different frequencies. This approach is expensive, requires complex analog phase locked loop (PLL) design and layout and slows time-to-market for new hardware designs. The Si570/1 programmable XOs and VCXOs replace multiple fixed-frequency oscillators with a single, frequency-flexible oscillator that can generate any frequency from 10 MHz to 1.4 GHz, significantly reducing component count, system cost and board space while simplifying PLL design and layout. The Si570/1 offer improved system reliability because multiple fixed-frequency oscillators, each representing a potential point of failure, are eliminated. The Si570/1 operating frequency is user-programmable via an industry-standard I2C interface, simplifying device programming and easing reconfigurability. The Si570/1 can be reprogrammed an unlimited number of times, enabling system designers to reuse a common timing architecture across a wide range of end applications, simplifying design and speeding time-to-market. "We’ve applied our proven DSPLL technology to dramatically simplify timing architectures in applications requiring multiple clock frequencies. The Si570 XO and Si571 VCXO address the growing need for low jitter, frequency-flexible clock sources, enabling hardware designers to decrease the number of oscillators in their designs while reducing cost and design time,” said David Bresemann, vice president of Silicon Laboratories. "With the addition of the Si570/1 family of any-rate oscillators, Silicon Labs has created the industry’s broadest portfolio of reconfigurable, frequency-agile precision clock and frequency control products.” The Si570/1 devices are available in an industry standard, RoHS-compliant 5 x 7 mm surface mount package with support for all common output formats (LVPECL, LVDS, CMOS and CML). The family offers three speed grades: 10 MHz to 1.4 GHz, 10 MHz to 810 MHz and 10 MHz to 215 MHz. The Si570 Any-Rate XO is available with two temperature stability options, +/-20 ppm and +/-50 ppm. The Si571 Any-Rate VCXO has a wide selection of absolute pull range (APR) options ranging from +/-12 ppm to +/-375 ppm, giving hardware designers increased flexibility when choosing the best device for an application. The Si570/1 support operation from -40 to +85 C. Pricing and Availability Available now, the Si570 is priced from $10.02 to $54.79 in quantities of 1K depending on speed grade and temperature stability. The Si571 is priced from $23.39 to $122.76 in quantities of 1K depending on speed grade and temperature stability. Silicon Laboratories Inc. Silicon Laboratories is an industry leader in the innovation of high-performance, analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs. Developed by a world-class engineering team with unsurpassed expertise in mixed-signal design, Silicon Labs’ diverse portfolio of highly-integrated, easy-to-use products offers customers significant advantages in performance, size and power consumption. These patented solutions serve a broad set of markets and applications including consumer, communications, computing, industrial and automotive. Headquartered in Austin, TX, Silicon Labs is a global enterprise with operations, sales and design activities worldwide. The company is committed to contributing to our customers’ success by recruiting the highest quality talent to create industry-changing innovations. For more information about Silicon Labs, please visit www.silabs.com. Cautionary Language This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on Silicon Laboratories’ current expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of factors that could impact Silicon Laboratories' financial results and cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, please refer to Silicon Laboratories’ filings with the SEC. Silicon Laboratories disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Note to editors: Si57x product family, DSPLL, Silicon Laboratories, Silicon Labs, the "S” symbol, and the Silicon Labs logo are trademarks of Silicon Laboratories Inc. All other product names noted herein may be trademarks of their respective holders.